◆ SpookStack

1 | Ste ee eee te be a Teme sear eers on EN tu SN tabetha, ae ne SN ats AE RAD TERE PSL A, De ase aed ete. | | Spurred on by the flouxishing narcotics trade, they re waging war in cities across the country. As crime rates rise, can the cops battle back 9 leak ov day and terri- ring by night. souch- cenctrai Los Angeles could ge the ser for some 3-victure about the world after a nuciearapoca- i —a nightmare landscape inhabited ov marauding thugs and nerd-nosed cops. a world in which innocence is hostave to violence and bystanders too often wind up as victims. When darkness comes to Watts. ng eitizens cower behind locked doors. Snudowy groups of young men pad cuiet]: down the alleyways while police cruisers roam the streets and helicopters clatter overnead. The police presence is overwhelming: anyone on the street is Ha- bie to be stopped and questioned. “Hands on the car. homeboy! Where's your [D?— What's that in your pocket? Got any dope? Seen anv zang bangers? Where vou oeen.. sou going? Answer one. homes—l'm “0 FOUL” £ SV week and veur ov veor. the i Fin LST when So! curp-side rousts in souch-central name of this tough and dangerous IDTESsiON—a EEYOPTIMENL memoers in Los An- ONDEY combating street crime. few L.A. cors will deny that thetr war avai the grouvs bas taken adecisive turn fi er armed and staev are also worse. The vanes are } more Violent than ever d VO MARCIE IS. BECT copy Fail ABLE igss ni at evading the law. in’shtk ecuter: losing the war.” The reason is dr ticulariv crack. or “r Caine. The crack trade. bulit on the enormous intlux of cocaine from Latin America. is now transforming some of the country’s toughest street gangs into chetto-based drug-trafficking organizations. Equally omincus. according io law-enforcement sources, is the fact tsome L.A. 1 gangs have now established direct connee- Nightmare landscape: L.A. Gust. guarding the homeofadrugictiness in New Yor . AGH BOCK